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Lloyd, Jeremy, Simms, Alexander R, Best, Louise 
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3731-054X, Bradwell, Tom, Puckette, Trap, Bradley, Sarah L and Small, David
(2025)
New constraints on post-glacial relative sea-level changes from NW Scotland – implications and interaction with the Minch Ice Stream.
In: AGU Annual Meeting 2025, 15-19 December 2025, New Orleans, LA..
(Unpublished)
Abstract
Understanding the interaction between relative sea-level changes and ice sheet retreat in the past can provide a crucial analogue for understanding modern ice sheet – sea level interaction. Global sea levels are currently rising at 3.7 to 4.0 mm/yr. The potential for marine-based ice sheets to catastrophically collapse could lead to even faster rates of sea-level rise by the end of the century. This phenomenon, termed the marine ice sheet instability (MISI) theory, is still not fully resolved. Providing better constraint on the pattern of relative sea-level changes around the margins of the Minch Ice Stream (a major ice stream draining the British and Irish Ice Sheet) will allow testing of models of the interplay between glacial-isostatic adjustment (GIA), ice stream dynamics and sea level changes. In turn, this will provide greater understanding of the mechanisms controlling retreat of marine-based ice streams. Here we provide additional radiocarbon dated sea-level index points from the southern/central and eastern margins of the palaeo-Minch Ice Stream. The new data helps constrain early relative sea-level change during the period of ice stream retreat and also provides minimum constraints on the timing of retreat. The new data presented here systematically identify sea levels higher than previously recorded during early deglaciation from the southern/central and eastern areas of the palaeo-Minch Ice Stream. New data suggests marine limits at approximately 30 m OD on the islands of Raasay and Rona from the southern area of the Minch decreasing to 10 -15 m OD in the Assynt region further north and east. The radiocarbon dates indicate relatively early retreat of the ice stream from this region at 17 – 18 ka. This new data suggests the Minch Ice Stream retreated more rapidly and earlier than previously recorded. This new data can be used to investigate the importance of sea-level feedbacks on marine-based ice sheet retreat that will ultimately provide insights into the behaviour of contemporary marine-based ice sheets.
| Item Type: | Conference or Workshop Item (Lecture) |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GB Physical geography G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences |
| Divisions: | Schools and Research Institutes > School of Arts, Culture and Environment |
| Depositing User: | Louise Best |
| Date Deposited: | 19 Dec 2025 12:24 |
| Last Modified: | 19 Dec 2025 12:24 |
| URI: | https://eprints.glos.ac.uk/id/eprint/15694 |
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